Schmitt S, Andries MK, Ashmore PM, Brunette G, Judge K, Bonham PA, et al.
Journal of wound, ostomy, and continence nursing : official publication of The Wound, Ostomy an.... Date of publication 2017 Sep 1;volume 44(5):458-468.
1. J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs. 2017 Sep/Oct;44(5):458-468. doi:
10.1097/WON.0000000000000361.
WOCN Society Position Paper: Avoidable Versus Unavoidable Pressure
Ulcers/Injuries.
Schmitt S(1), Andries MK, Ashmore PM, Brunette G, Judge K, Bonham PA.
Author information:
(1)Shawneen Schmitt, MSN, MS, RN, CWOCN, CFCN, FACCWS, Froedtert
Health-CHD-Community Memorial Hospital, Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. Marti K.
Andries, MSN, ANP-BC, FNP-BC, CWCN-AP, Central Control, Inc, Pineville,
Louisiana. Patti M. Ashmore, BSN, RN, CWOCN, Wound, Ostomy, Continence Care Nurse
Consultant and Educator, Evans, Georgia. Glenda Brunette, MSN, RN, CWON, Wound &
Ostomy Nurse, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina.
Kathleen Judge, MSN, RN, APN-C, NP-C, NEA-BC, ACNS-BC, CWON-AP, CCCN, Virtua
Health, Voorhees, New Jersey. Phyllis A. Bonham, PhD, MSN, RN, CWOCN, DPNAP,
FAAN, Professor Emerita, Medical University of South Carolina, College of
Nursing, Charleston, South Carolina.
The issue of whether pressure injuries are avoidable or preventable has been and
continues to be an issue of great debate and discussion for many years, and it
has significant legal and regulatory implications related to prevention of wounds
due to pressure. The following position paper outlines the position of the Wound,
Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society (WOCN) on avoidable versus unavoidable
pressure injuries. It includes the following information: statement of position,
purpose/rationale for the position, definitions of avoidable versus unavoidable
pressure injuries, alternative definitions, historical overview, supportive
statements from expert opinion and research in the literature, and
recommendations for research.
DOI: 10.1097/WON.0000000000000361
PMID: 28877112 [Indexed for MEDLINE]